The centenary of the "Great War" not only inspired the memory on this "great seminal catastrophe of this century", but has also reopened the question of its interpretation and description. Within these discussions the Balkans have also gained an increased importance. Following the concept of a "modern" military-history, the volume puts the "event, experiences and memory" at its center and thus seeks to integrate South-Eastern Europe more into the comparative picture of the "Great War". Die 100-jahrige Wiederkehr des Ersten Weltkriegs hat nicht nur die Erinnerung an diese "Urkatastrophe" des 20. Jahrhunderts beflugelt, sondern auch scheinbar ausdiskutierte Fragen seiner Beschreibung und Deutung neuerlich belebt. Dabei hat mit dem Balkan auch derjenige Raum an Bedeutung gewonnen, von dem der Krieg seinen Ausgangspunkt genommen hat. Der Band beleuchtet "Ereignis, Erfahrung und Erinnerung" an den Krieg der Jahre 1914 bis 1918 auf dem Balkan und tragt damit zu einer noch starkeren Integration Sudosteuropas in das Bild des "Grossen Krieges" bei.

With the European Unions upcoming eastern enlargement, Europe is confronted with the necessity of creating security and stability beyond the EU borders in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. This task includes not only numerous risks but also opportunities to face the challenges of the 21st century. This volume provides policy-oriented recommendations and differentiated assessments for all nine states and entities of the region, as well as for the policy areas of governance, economy and security. The authors explore the unintended consequences and side-effects of massive support for reforms and external influence on weak states. A concept for a "Mulit-Layered Europe" is developed for the strategic dilemmas concerning the current debate on "Wilder Europe." The unique alliance between analytical output and strategic thinking makes the book valuable for the academic community and for persons responsible for Europes future. The volume is one of two from a joint project on "Security in Europa and beyond its borders" of the Bertelsmann Foundation in Guetersloh and the Center for Applied Policy Research in Munich."